Steering solenoid for torpedoes



March 18, 1947. M. G. LEONARD STEERING SOLENOID FOR TORPEDOES Filed June 29, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Merrill 6. Leonard WITNESSES: 4&6?

BY M5.

ATTORNEY March 18, 1947. LEONARD STEERING SOLENOID FOR TORPEDOES Filed June 29, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l i.

INVENTOR 4/9/77 5,. Zea/70rd WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY arch 18, 1947.

M. G. LEONARD I STEERING SOLENOID FOR TORPEDOES Filed Jime 29, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Ale/71W Zea/ram.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY arch 18, 1947. LEONARD STEERING SOLENOID FOR TORPEDOES Filed June 29, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

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ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES FFlCE STEERING SOLENOID FOR TORPEDOES Application June 29, 1944, Serial No. 542,757

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to torpedoes and, more particularly, to the steering and depth control of electrically propelled torpedoes.

The Government of the United States has been granted a certain royalty-free license for governmental purposes with respect to the invention herein described.

In the construction of conventional prior art torpedoes, it is the practice to operate the rudders by means of air cylinders. Pistons in these cylinders are connected to rocker rings, which rings operate the rudders directly by means of relatively long pull rods leading from somewhere in the body of the torpedo to the tail-cone housing the rings. These rods acting on the rings produce the required angular motion of the rudders. In this prior art construction, it is necessary to provide packing glands for the pull rods because the air cylinders are, and have to be, on the inside of the main body of the torpedo, but the rocker rings are normally mounted in the tail-cone which is open and exposed to the sea water.

One broad object of my invention is the provision of simple, compact, and inexpensive rudder operating mechanisms for a device operating or being propelled in water.

Another object of my invention is the provision of electromagnetic means, unaffected by sea water or other body of water, for operating the rudders of a device bein propelled in the water.

A more specific object of my invention is the elimination of the cumbersome, long and expensive pneumatic rudder operating mechanisms for torpedoes.

The objects hereinbefore recited are merely illustrative. Other broad and specific objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following specification and claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic showing of my invention as applied to the rudders of a torpedo;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tail-cone of a torpedo showing the arrangement of my invention for operating the steering rudders;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on a generally vertical axial plane showing my invention as applied to the depth control rudders;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the tail-cone on the section line of IV-IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows at the ends of the section line;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on section line V-V shown in Fig. 3, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows at the ends of this section line; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification of my invention.

In Figs. 1 and. 4, the torpedo is generally designated by '1. As shown schematically, each set of rudders, l and 2, and 3 and 4, is controlled by two solenoids, so that in all four solenoids are requiredtwo for the steering rudders l and 2, and two for the elevator rudders 3 and 4. This is necessary inasmuch as it is not usually practical to design a single solenoid which will both push and pull on the operating plunger.

A relatively short time after firing of the torpedo, the lookout, when used, for depth control and the gyroscopic control is released. This means at this stage switches 8 and 9 are closed and arm i2 will be set on the target which will be some position other than that shown, A circuit will thus be established from the torpedo propulsion battery (not shown) but, designated by the plus and minus buses 5 and Hi, respectively. The first circuit to be established may be traced from bus 5 through resistors E and I, through switches 8 and 9 to the negative bus Hi. If, for example, the arm i2 is set in some clockwise angle with reference to the narrow insulating strip 29, then a circuit is established from junction ll, through arm I2, the roller l2, the upper portion of the conducting sector !3, actuating coil M of the relay l5 to energized conductor l6. Contacts I? immediately close, establishing a circuit from bus 5, through conductor l8, solenoid coil IQ for the steering rudders l and 2, contacts 11, to energized conductor It. The steering mechanism will thus cause the torpedo to be turned to head for the target. For the assumed position of arm l2, the rudders l and 2 will be turned counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 2. As this takes place, the torpedo is moved clockwise with reference to sector [3 till the narrow insulating sector 20 is brought directly under the contact roller l2 at the end of arm I2. The torpedo is then heading for the target.

When the arm I2 is directly above the narrow insulating sector 20, the energizing circuit for coil i4 is interrupted at the insulating sector 20 with the result that contacts ll open to thus deenergize the coil 19. The rudder thus immediately returns to its neutral position.

If in the movement of the torpedo, namely the sector 13, the narrow insulating sector 20 moves in a clockwise direction sufliciently to position the arm H2, in some counterclockwise position with reference to the sector 20, then a circuit is established from junction ll, through arm l2, the small roller l2 at the end of arm l2, the lower portion of the conducting sector I3, actuating coil M of the relay IE to the energized conductor l6. Contacts II are thereupon closed to establish a circuit from bus 5, through conductor l8, solenoid coil l9, contacts l1 to the energized conductor It. The steering rudders l and 2 are thus actuated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2 and the torpedo is turned counterclockwise till the roller I2 and insulating sector 2B are again in registry, There will thus be some hunting of the torpedo about its desired line of travel. The constants of the electrical equipment and the steering rudder design are such that this hunting is kept to a small'value. No attempt is made to entirely eliminate hunting since it has been found that the accuracy of the torpedo is somewhat improved if allowed to hunt some.

When the torpedo is too deep or at the moment tends to dive, or both, a circuit is established from energized conductor [8, through solenoid coil 22, conductor 23, rheostatic control device 24, operated by the depth and tilt responsive pendulum 25, switch 8 and switch 9 to negativ bus. Rudders 3 and 4 will thus be operated to correct the depth or tilt, or both, of the torpedo.

When the torpedo is not deep enough, or it tends to surface, or both, a similar operation takes place, but in this case solenoid coil 26 is energized and rudders 3 and 4 are operated but in an opposite sense, to again correct the tilt and depth of the torpedo.

I have shown various elements in the tail-cone of the torpedo in considerable detail for purposes of clarity. For instance, the propulsion shafts and differential driving mechanisms for the propellers do not in themselves constitute part of my invention.

It will be noted that the tail-cone is provided with a plurality of screened openings 21, 28, etc. (see Figs. 2 and 3). Sea water is thus admitted to the inside of the tail-cone furnishing such lubrication for the gears as the Water may provide and stabilizing the buoyancy of the tail.

To prevent the sea Water from entering the torpedo body, I provide the wall 3|. A suitable water-tight bearing 32 (see Fig. 3) is provided for the propulsion shaft, and I mount my special solenoids for operating the rudders on this wall 3 I.

With the construction I provide, it is thus possible to mount the operating elements of each solenoid, that is, the armatures in the portion of the torpedo exposed to the sea water. It is, however, rather difficult and impractical to pro tect the 'coils themselves from the action of the sea water, and for this reason I make the solenoid construction part of the wall 3|. In this connection the description of one solenoid housing will sufiice since all four constructions are alike. I fasten the cylindrical housing member 33 to the wall 3| at 34. Concentric of this cylindrical housing 33 I position the cylinder 35. This cylinder 35 is preferably of brass, bronze, or some other non-magnetic material, so that the plunger or armature 36 acted upon by the coil will in nowise stick to the walls. Cylinder 35 thus forms a smooth guide for the plunger 36.

A suitable ring 31 hermetically connects the cylindrical housing 33 and cylinder 35 at 38 and 39, .and circular disc atthe forward end hermetically closes the cylinder 35, I

1 .A. mounting is thus provided for the solenoid coil 22 so that this coll may readily be inserted and removed from the left as seen in Fig. 3. Each solenoid coil is mounted in this same manner so that the armatures for operating the rudders may be readily actuated while exposed to the sea water, and yet no provision other than the construction I provide need be made to protect the coils against the action of the sea water.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 follows an existing construction of a tall-cone. My invention may be greatly simplified if the tail-cone is also altered as shown in Fig, 6. The showing of Fig. 6 also follows an existing construction.

In Fig. 6 I make the tail-cone much shorter and position the partition 4| much nearer the gear drive shown. The water-tight bearing 42 may be of the same construction as hearing 32, but relocated.

In this construction, cylinder 45 only is needed. This cylinder 45 is hermetically connected to the wall 4| at 48 and is hermetically closed by the circular disc 50. The plunger 36 thus moves freely in the non-magnetic cylinder 45.

The coils may thus be readily mounted as Well as removed without impairing the liquid seal.

My showings and the description of my invention are merely illustrative and are not to be taken in a limiting sense. I wish to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a control for controlling the direction of operation of a torpedo, in combination, a torpedo tail-cone, a rudder mounted thereon, which rudder when operated controls the direction of travel of the torpedo with reference to the me dium through which it moves, a magnetic armature coupled to the rudder for operating the same, a sealing wall at the forward region of the tail-cone for preventing the medium in the tail-cone from entering the torpedo body, said sealing wall having an opening therein, a guide sleeve for the armature open at the aft end and closed fluid tight at the forward end, sealing means between the edges of the opening in the sealing wall and the outer pe p o the aft open end of the sleeve, and an armature actuating coil disposed about the guide sleeve.

2. In a control for controlling the direction of operation of a torpedo, in combination, a torpedo tail-cone, a rudder mounted thereon, which rudder when operated controls the direction of travel of the torpedo with reference to the medium through which it moves, a magnetic armature coupled to the rudder for operating the same, a disc-like partition at the forward end of the tailcone disposed substantially normal to the tailcone axis, said partition having a liquid tight connection at its perimeter with the inner surface of the tail-cone, said partition being provided with a transverse opening, a cylindrical armature guide sleeve closed liquid tight at its forward end and having its aft open end secured liquid tight to the edges of the opening in the partition, and an armature actuating coil about the guide sleeve.

3. In a control for controlling the direction of operation of a torpedo, in combination, a torpedo tail-cone, a rudder mounted thereon, which rudder when operated controls the direction of travel of the torpedo with reference to the medium through which it moves, a magnetic armature coupled to the rudder for operating the same, a disc-like partition at the forward end of the tailcone disposed substantially normal to the. tailcone axis, said partition having a' liquid tight con nection at its perimeter with'th'e inne'r' surface of the tail-cone, said partition being provided with a transverse opening, a cylindrical nonmagnetic armature guide sleeve closed liquid tight at its forward end and having its aft open end secured liquid tight to the edges of the opening in the partition so that the medium in the tailcone can enter the sleeve but cannot pass forward into the torpedo body, and an armature actuating coil about the guide sleeve at the forward side of.

the partition.

4. In a control for controlling the direction of operation of a torpedo, in combination, a torpedo tail-cone, a rudder mounted thereon, which rudder when operated controls the direction of travel of the torpedo with reference to the medium through which it moves, a magnetic armature coupled to the rudder for operating the same, a disc-like partition at the forward end of the tail: cone disposed substantially normal to the tailcone axis, said partition having a liquid tight connection at its perimeter with the inner surface of the tail-cone, said partition being provided with a transverse opening, a pair of cylindrical sleeves of substantially the same length but of considerable difference in sectional area disposed one within the other, the outer sleeve having its outer forward perimeter connected liquid tight to the inner edge of the opening in the wall, a disclike closure providing a liquid tight closure for the forward end of the inner cylindrical sleeve, an annular closure providing a liquid tight connection between the facing aft ends of both sleeves, and electromagnetic armature actuating means disposed between the sleeves.

5. In a steering control for a torpedo, in combination, a torpedo tail-cone, a rudder pivotally mounted thereon, a magnetic armature having one end coupled to the rudder for operating the rudder, a wall at the forward region of the tailcone forming a liquid tight seal with the inner surface of the tail-cone, an armature guide sleeve of non-magnetic material having a liquid tight closure at its forward end and having at the outer perimeter of its aft end a liquid tight seal with the wall, and an armature actuating coil disposed about the sleeve.

6. In combination with the partition associated with the tail-cone and after-body of a torpedo for preventing the medium in the tail-cone from entering the torpedo after body, a rudder pivotally mounted on the tail-cone, an electromagnetic rudder operating mechanism including an electric coil, an armature of magnetic material, an armature guide sleeve closed at the forward end and at its aft end hermetically connected to the edges of an opening provided in the partition to thus admit the fluid medium in the tail-cone into the sleeve but prevent the fluid medium from passing into the torpedo after body, said armature being slidably disposed within the sleeve and coupled to the rudder for actuating the rudder of the torpedo and said coil being disposed about the guide sleeve to actuate the armature.

7. n combination with apparatus for controlling the direction of operation of a torpedo with respect to a horizontal line of reference, a torpedo after-body, a torpedo tail-cone secured to the after-body, a sealing wall comprising a bulkhead disposed between the tail-cone and after-body for excluding the sea water, normally in the tailcone, from the after-body of the torpedo, a rudder pivotally mounted on the tail-cone, an armature of magnetic material at one of its ends connected to operate the rudder, said bulkhead being provided with an armature receiving sleeve having the end for receiving the armature hermetically sealed to the bulkhead and the other end hermetically closed, and an actuating coil disposed about the sleeve, and thus not exposed to the sea water, for actuating said armature.

MERRILL G. LEONARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,378,740 Walkup May 17, 1921 2,324,642 Peterson July 20, 1943 1,978,737 Bower et al Oct. 10, 1934 2,096,763 Ray et al. Oct. 26, 1937 

